St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-31
TEXAS OUTLAWS.
They Hold Their Own Against the
Officers.

HoUsTON. Tex, Aug. 30.-On We'd
nesday last, four of gang of horse
thieves which have been making raids
near here for some time, rode to ThOmp-
sons switch, a small station seventy
miles from Houston, mounted on thor
oughbred horses. They ordered dinner,
after which they got drunk, fired off
their pistols and terrified the inhabi
tantS of the settlement. when they rode
off in northwesterly direction. On
SATURDAY. John Williford, farmer and
stock man, of Oppression reported to
Sheriff Ellis that he had two horses
stolen from him on Thursday, and that
the thieves were still in the vicinity of
his farm. Sheriff Ellis started at once
for Navasota. where he organized a
posse and started after the outlaws in
hopes of heading them off. Yesterday
morning two men rode into Houston
and notified Deputy Sheriff Albert
Erickson that the outlaws were camped
at Eureka, five miles from this city.
Deputy Erickson mounted horse and
Immediately started for the camp of the
outlaws. On arriving at the spot where
the outlaws were camped, Erickson dis
covered the gang were gone. After
riding about for some time, the deputy
found three men camped under tree
on the prairie. He at once telegraphed
to Houston for assistance. A posse
under command of Capt. Lubbock at
once left for the scene of action. On
arriving at Eureka the posse separated.
Deputy Sheriff Erickson and part of
the posse proceeded in the direction of
Smokeyville, and the remainder, under
Capt. Lubbock, heading for the prairie.
The latter posse soon struck the trail,
and in short while located the out
laws, who were still camped under the
tree. Capt. Lubbock then
FORMED HIS POSSE
in line and advising all to reserve their
fire until within thirty yards of the out
laws. began advancing toward the
camp. The outlaws seeing this, quickly
saddled their animals and started out at
a quick gallop. After riding few mo-
mentS the leader of the outlaws, who
was riding a magnificent roam charger
and having in his hat wavy black
plume, threw his Winchester on his
arm, and slightly turning in his saddle,
began shooting his rife, sending shot
after shot at the officers. The other out
laws. who were armed with siX-shooters,
also began firing at the posse. The
posse of Capt. Lubbock reserved fire as
ordered, until it was evident that the
outlaws would reach the timber. The
command to fire on the robbers was
then given, and about forty or fifty
shots were exchanged, the outlaws
halting and making desperate
fight. During the skirmish the horse
of Capt. Lubbock was killed. One
of the German citizens. named Kass-
ner, who lived near Hockey, was
wounded in the arm by rifle ball. At
ter the encounter on the prairie, Capt.
Lubbock returned to the city and an
other party started out in pursuit. 1t is
learned that the sergeant of a convict
camp near by had pack of bloodhOunds
on the trail, but withdrew them for fear
the outlaws would kill them. From the
peculiar method that the outlaws had of
lying low on their horses and quick
wheeling in running and firing, it was
thought that they were part of the old
Sam Bass gang, who defied the state au-
thorities of Texas few years ago.
From the large rolls of money displayed
by the outlaws on their visit and drunk
en- spree at ThOmpson's Switch, it is
confidently thought that they are the
same gang who robbed the Southern
Pacific train at Flatonia in June. A
dispatch was received from Sheriff Ellis
at Cypress late last night stating that he
was on hot trail and expected to bag
his game before daylight. The robbers
are game and desperate, and a bloody
battle is anticipated should they be dis
covered.